Bose SoundLink III Bluetooth Speaker Promises Big Sound

Back in 2010, we talked a bit about the Bose SoundLink speaker. Since that time, there was a Soundlink II, and now Bose has announced a new version of that speaker called the SoundLink III. The new speaker is much more attractive and promises better performance. In fact, the company says that the new speaker is its best sounding portable Bluetooth unit ever.

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The SoundLink III has four neodymium transducers and dual-opposing passive radiators. It also uses a digital signal processing algorithm and improved electronics for more volume than the previous models.

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The compact speaker measures 5″ H x 10″ W x 2″ deep. Battery life is rated at up to 14 hours on a single charge. The design of the speaker is made even more attractive with one of several optional colored covers, which add $35 to the price.

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It has a silicon button panel that can survive dirt and dust. It also has a wrap around metal grille to resist fingerprints. The speaker is offered in gray, blue, green, orange, and pink. The SoundLink III speaker is available now for $299.95(USD).

Bose SoundLink Bluetooth speaker III is the latest member of the acclaimed family

SoundLink_speaker_IIIBose has just announced their latest SoundLink product, which so happens to be the Bose SoundLink Bluetooth speaker III. Touted to be the best-performing Bluetooth speaker from Bose to date, it is said to deliver a brand new level of audio performance, coming in an all-new design, sports a longer battery life, and will be accompanied by accessory covers in five different colors. Not only that, it will also be able to hook up sans wires to your smartphone, tablet or basically, any other kind of device that has Bluetooth capability, so that you can share your favorite music out loud regardless of where you are.

This particularly new SoundLink III will integrate Bose proprietary technologies so that it can reproduce music with fullness, clarity and depth. A quartet of neodymium transducers and dual-opposing passive radiators will work in tandem with a new digital signal processing algorithm alongside improved electronics to play louder compared to its predecessor, all the while maintaining its balanced and natural sound at higher listening levels.

Apart from that, what is the point of having something that sounds good if it does not look pleasing to the eye at all? The Bose SoundLink III will be a sight to behold as well, where it is beautifully crafted and engineered for durability as well as grab-and-go use. Sporting a new industrial design that has been inspired by the SoundLink Mini Bluetooth speaker, this particular model would be sturdily built, where it has curved edges and a thin profile which would do away with the need for a built-in cover or stand. Not only that, there will also be a silicone button panel that offers additional protection from dirt and dust, and a wraparound metal grille which will do its bit to resist fingerprints. If you feel that it needs another level of personalization and added protection, then you will be pleased to hear that the new accessory covers will come in gray, blue, green, orange and pink shades.

The entire shebang tips the scales at a mere 3 pounds, where it measures approximately 5” in height, 10” wide and 2” deep. Each of these puppies would come with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that delivers up to 14 hours of listening. The asking price? £259.95 a pop.

Press Release
[ Bose SoundLink Bluetooth speaker III is the latest member of the acclaimed family copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Boombotix Raises $4M For Its Wearable Action Speakers And Audio Sync Software

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Kickstarter funding will often lead to the more traditional kind, and in the case of Boombotix, that’s exactly what happened. The California startup raised $17,000 for its music syncing app, which allows people to synchronize playback of music across multiple devices using mobile networks, and nearly $130,000 for its Boombot Rex mobile Bluetooth action-ready portable speaker. Now, it has also raised $4 million in venture funding from Social+ Capital, Baseline, Red Hills and many others.

May of its partners in this round are strategic in nature, and Boombotix co-founder Lief Storer says they were chosen for their ability to help build the brand.

“The investors’ interest is vested in amplifying our brand through product development and strategic marketing,” he explained in an interview. “There isn’t a single expense [in terms of using these funds] that stands out, but having key human capital in place to continue building the talent in the organization will be essential to the long-term strategy.”

Boombotix isn’t saying how many speakers it managed to see since its launch back in 2010, but it has seen its sales grow by triple figures since the debut of its Kickstarter campaigns, which also led to deals secured with retailers including Amazon, T-Mobile, Microsoft and Apple.com. The selling point of the Boombot REX is that it can stand up to mud, dust and some water exposure, as well as take spills, while providing quality sound, portability and also speaker phone functions, including the ability to use Siri on the iPhone from the gadget.

Its audio sync tech was designed to be an answer to user requests to broadcast to multiple speakers at once, which isn’t supported with standard Bluetooth. It isn’t perfect, but the app gets around this by allowing multiple devices (i.e. smartphones or tablets) to sync playback of music perfectly over a mobile network, which means that each can output music to their own attached Bluetooth speaker for what is effectively multi-speaker sound. Of course, you need more than one device to make it happen, but it’s a step in the right direction.

Boombot has begun to position its speakers as a wearable play, in part to capitalize on the growing interest in that device category. It’s true that they’re small and clip-mounted, and can be easily attached to clothing, but the key to growth will be holding appeal beyond the current action sports group of core buyers. With fresh funding, perhaps that kind of expansion is exactly what’s in store.

Kicker Amphitheater BT2 is a portable Bluetooth speaker

kickerIn this day and age, many of us would want to lead a wireless lifestyle – after all, it makes plenty of sense not being tethered by pesky cables and wires that tend to have a life of their own after office hours, getting all tangled up without touching it. Apart from that, cables are also a surefire breeding ground for dust bunnies. Why not take advantage of wireless connectivity instead? The $199.99 Kicker Amphitheater BT2 would cater for those who love Bluetooth technology, as this wireless speaker hails from car stereo experts, which means it ought to deliver some pretty decent audio quality to your ears.

The Kicker Amphitheater BT2 would be accompanied by 5″ drivers, a 0.75″ silk-dome tweeter, and a 6″ square reflex subwoofer, where it will play nice with the iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, Android-powered devices, and basically any other music playback device that comes with Bluetooth connectivity. Sporting a 50-watt internal amplifier, this is one serious accessory which will be able to deliver serious audio quality without having you work up a storm in its setup.
[ Kicker Amphitheater BT2 is a portable Bluetooth speaker copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

BRAVEN Vibe unveiled as first portable distributed audio Bluetooth and Wi-Fi audio system in the world

braven-vibeNow here is something interesting from the folks over at BRAVEN – they have unveiled the Vibe, which so happens to be the first portable distributed audio Bluetooth as well as Wi-Fi audio system around the globe. The main objective of the BRAVEN Vibe would be to revolutionize multi-room audio through the empowering of users to share music across multiple devices virtually anywhere, from any wireless device, without missing a beat. Kiss goodbye to messy cables that seem to get all tangled up with one another as though they have a life of their own.

The BRAVEN Vibe System would be able to open the floodgates to single streaming and sharing solutions across iOS, Android, and Windows devices, where it is also capable of supporting multiple audio streams simultaneously. Apart from that, the BRAVEN Vibe System will create a wireless sound network, so that users will be able to establish speaker zones for customized audio streaming regardless of where they are in the immediate vicinity.

This is touted to be the first system in the world that makes use of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity via an app. This app enables users to establish speaker groups under the same network, resulting in a customized audio listening experience such as classical music in the bedroom and kitchen, while those in the living room can chill out to some rock, and the dining room folks will be able to eat in peace with jazz playing in the background.

As long as you have a compatible Bluetooth-enabled device, it will be able to play nice with the BRAVEN Vibe System, all without the need for a wireless network or streaming service. The Vibe System comprises of a Vibe Station, an all-in-one hub/speaker, Vibe Replay which are additional speakers that expands the Vibe system, while functioning as portable Bluetooth speakers, and Vibe Link that lets you integrate existing speakers while distributing audio to additional wireless speakers.

Press Release
[ BRAVEN Vibe unveiled as first portable distributed audio Bluetooth and Wi-Fi audio system in the world copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Scosche boomBOTTLE H2O and boomBOTTLE mini delivers waterproof speaker solution

boombottle-miniConsidering how some modern day smartphones do not only come with high end hardware specifications, they are also rugged enough to be able to withstand the likes of some rain or even getting dunked in water – as long as they do not end up in a pool that is more than a meter deep, and remain there for over 30 minutes, that is. Having said that, what is the point of a pool party if there isn’t some music to keep you and the rest of the folks happy? Why not pair up a waterproof handset with a speaker that is also equally waterproof, all without having to tether them to a wire or cable? This is where Scosche’s boomBOTTLE H2O and boomBOTTLE mini comes in handy, delivering a similar weatherproof capability that is found in the original boomBOTTLE, although arriving in a far more compact and ultra portable configuration this time around.

The boomBOTTLE H2O is a durable, IPX7 rated (waterproof up to 1 meter) device that would find a day out at the pool or at the beach or even on a boat to be what it is meant for. Sporting a 5W 50MM speaker, it has a Bluetooth range of 33 feet, as well as carries more than enough battery life to be able to pump out up to 8 hours of non-stop playback on a single charge. Apart from that, it is made out of floatable material, allowing it to float should it happen to fall overboard.

As for the boomBOTTLE mini, this is a good example of not judging a book by its cover, or in this case, to be more accurate, to reserve judgment against it despite its fairly diminutive size of 2.44” in height. It will make use of a 3W 40mm speaker to deliver rich clear audio, where the IPX4 rated (weatherproof) speaker also has a range of up to 33 feet, where its battery delivers up to 5 hours of non-stop playback on a single full charge.

Press Release
[ Scosche boomBOTTLE H2O and boomBOTTLE mini delivers waterproof speaker solution copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Libratone Loop Review: The AirPlay Speaker That Looks As Good As It Sounds

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For AirPlay speakers, there’s a lot of choice out there. Often that can result in the feeling that there are essentially a lot of people sticking to an easy formula and churning out virtually interchangeable devices, but Libratone is a speaker-maker that makes AirPlay sound ware that stands out, and the new Loop is no exception.

Basics

  • Wi-Fi enabled for AirPlay and DLNA streaming
  • 3.5mm and USB audio inputs
  • PlayDirect for AirPlay without network
  • Interchangeable felt speaker covers
  • MSRP: $499.95
  • Product info page

Pros

  • Room-filling sound
  • Easy wall mounting with included hardware

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Portable design but no battery

Design

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Libratone’s strength is design: They make speakers that don’t necessarily look like you’d expect from something fitting that description, using heathered felt and odd shapes to surprise and also better mesh with modern interior design. A signature Libratone move is to offer interchangeable felt covers for its speakers so that owners can color coordinate with their existing setup, and the Loop offers this (spare covers will cost you extra, however).

The disc design is a bold one, and might not mesh with everyone’s tastes, but it makes the speaker an object of art itself, rather than something you’re trying to hide away. Resting atop a TV bench or even just propped on its included stand by itself in the corner of a room, it looks at home and like a design decision rather than an afterthought.

There’s another great aspect to the Libratone Loop’s design: its mounting hole and peg make it very easy to hang on the wall (where its disc-shaped design is especially attractive), and yet also keeps it portable should you want to take it with you to another room.

Performance

The Loop not only looks good, it also renews my faith in Libratone’s ability to put out speakers that sound great. The Zipp impressed me with its sound quality, but the Loop carries that further, with a richer sound that’s better for a full-on living room home audio setup replacement.

It’s a speaker that can get very loud without offering up any kind of distortion, and while it might be a little heavy on the bass side for many users, it’s probably right in the sweet spot for most people looking for an AirPlay speaker that’s pricey without being ridiculous. It’s also easy to set up, and you don’t need anything beyond an iPhone or iPad to do it. PlayDirect, the AirPlay that doesn’t require a shared network (the Loop can provide its own) is also a huge selling point that isn’t necessarily shared by Libratone competitors.

The Competition

Speaking of the competition, Libratone has a healthy crop. At this price range, there’s the new and very capable line of Cambridge Audio speakers, including the Minx Air 200 that I’d consider its closest rival. For an extra $100, the Minx Air 200 offers preset Internet radio stations that don’t require a computer or other audio source to listen to, and there’s Bluetooth built in. The Loop is cheaper, however, and better looking, plus it has deeper bass (though executes with less clarity in the mid-range) if that’s your bag.

Bottom Line

The Loop is a great AirPlay speaker, and with DLNA support, it’s relatively platform agnostic. I’m a sucker for the design aesthetic Libratone has chosen, too, so that’s a big selling point as well, but it’s the sound that brings it home. Libratone is essentially a boutique shop specializing in AirPlay sound, and it shows, so you can’t go wrong with their lineup, and the Loop fits nicely price wise in a gap between its Zipp and Live range of devices.

Monocle Speaker delivers a level of sonic sophistication

monocle-speakerA monocle is more often than not something that a sophisticated person wears, especially in the olden days. The thing is, monocles are all about sight – but what about sound? This is where the £39.99 Monocle Speaker comes in, where it bridges the gap between sight and sound, coming in a design that does not betray its namesake, and yet delivering audio quality that would put a smile on your face (as well as that of the listeners in the vicinity, assuming you do not play any kind of music that are not to their liking, of course).

The Monocle Speaker will be able to offer a fresh and distinguished music-listening experience, where it sports powerful 40mm sound drivers which are capable of delivering first-rate sound quality. One can best describe the Monocle Speaker to be a 3-in-1 Speaker, Handset, and Speakerphone, where a single full charge will be able to let it enjoy up to a whopping 5 hours of non-stop playback, where it sports a brushed-metal speaker grill as well as soft-touch rubberized volume wheel. This seems to be the perfect speaker for the distinguished, modern day gentleman.
[ Monocle Speaker delivers a level of sonic sophistication copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Invasion of the Speaker Daleks: REVERBERATE! REVERBERATE!

This Dalek was caught invading CES 2014. He was not built on Skaro however, but by car audio company Massive Audio for display at their CES booth. I bet he caught tons of attention. It is actually a giant speaker. But still. Kill it now!

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This Dalek measures six feet-tall and was built using 32 woofers on the bottom, a big subwoofer in the head and 5,000 watts of amplifiers. Yes, that is a powerful Dalek indeed. He plays music streamed through your smartphone or tablet. The whole creation weighs 926 pounds and cost $25,000 to make. It will be auctioned off on eBay for the BBC’s children’s charity sometime this summer, so you can potentially own this guy.

Now all we need is for the Cybermen to show up with some tweeters in their helmets.

Harman Kardon Aura see-through speaker hits pre-order

Harman Kardon is known for making some speakers that have very nice sound quality. The company is also known for making some of the most interesting looking audio products out … Continue reading